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Farmer Dies After 16 Hours Trapped in Cold
15 Jul
Summary
- A farmer died from hypothermia after being trapped for 16 hours.
- He was found alive but unconscious under his quad bike.
- The incident occurred on his farm in sub-zero temperatures.
David Charles Knipe, a 65-year-old farmer from Tebay, near Penrith, tragically died following an accident on his farm. On December 5, 2024, he drove his quad bike into a wooded area on his property. He was discovered the following morning, still alive but in and out of consciousness, trapped beneath the vehicle.
The inquest heard that Mr. Knipe had likely been in this position for about 16 hours. The extreme cold contributed significantly to his condition, with sub-zero temperatures exacerbating the situation. He was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital but sadly passed away soon after arrival.
Medical professionals at the hospital suspected a fractured pelvis, but the post-mortem examination did not confirm this. Pathologists concluded that the absence of internal injuries made hypothermia the highly probable cause of death. Assistant coroner Craig Smith officially ruled Mr. Knipe's death as accidental.
